Chapter 1 - International Reg Environment Flashcards
Rules Based Approach
High degree of prescriptive procedures including very detailed rules stipulating
what individuals and firms must do to ensure they comply. A rules-based approach requires a strict
adherence to precise rules with little allowance for interpretation. It is typically inflexible and may
result in a tick-box exercise.
Principles Based Approach
The focus is on principles and, therefore, the types of behaviour and outcomes,
not on blindly following the rules. Therefore, a principles-based approach acts as a fundamental
source of guidance on how firms and individuals are expected to act. How and to what extent the
principles are met is the responsibility of the individual and firm themselves.
What is Self-Regulation?
Self-regulation exists where groups or industries mutually agree the rules that will govern their own
collective behaviours. It exists in addition to any laws or regulations established by government or
instituted bodies
Examples of Self Regulation?
- industry SROs
- exchange self-regulatory frameworks, and
- private associations.
What areas does Self Regulation focus on?
- Oversight of the market itself
- Qualification standards for market intermediation
- Oversight of the business conduct of intermediaries, including their relationship with their client market-users
Key Elements of an SRO Model
- Industry knowledge
- Industry Motivation
- Contractual Relationship
- Transparency and Accountability
- Flexibility
- Coordination and Information Sharing
What is AAOIFI?
AAOIFI is an autonomous body responsible for the formulation and issuance of accountancy, auditing
ethics, governance and Shariah standards for the international Islamic banking and finance industry.
What is IFSB?
The IFSB is an international standard-setting organisation with a mission to promote and enhance the soundness and stability of the Islamic financial sector by issuing global prudential standards and guiding principles for the industry, broadly defined to include banking, capital markets and insurance sectors. Members of the IFSB are typically central banks in countries where Islamic financial institutions are incorporated.
What is the GDPR?
The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was enforced on the 25 May 2018 and replaces
the Data Protection Directive. The GDPR is designed to harmonise data privacy laws across Europe to
protect EU citizens from privacy and data breaches in an increasingly data-driven world
What is the territorial scope of the GDPR?
It will apply to the processing of personal data by controllers and processors in the EU, regardless of whether the processing takes place in the EU or not.
The GDPR will also apply to the processing of personal data in the EU by a controller or processor not established in the EU, where the activities relate to: offering goods or services to EU citizens (irrespective of whether payment is required) and the monitoring of behaviour that takes place within the EU.
Penalties for GDPR Breach?
Up to 4% of the annual global turnover of the previous financial year or €20 million (whichever is greater)
Basic principle of consent under GDPR?
It must be as easy to withdraw consent as it is to give it.
What are the breach notification requiremnts under GDPR?
Mandatory in all member states where a data breach is likely to ‘result in a risk for the rights and freedoms of individuals’. This must be done within 72 hours of first
having become aware of the breach. Data processors will also be required to notify their customers, the
controllers, ‘without undue delay’ after first becoming aware of a data breach
What is the Right to Access under GDPR?
The right for data subjects to obtain from the data controller confirmation as to whether or not personal data concerning them is being processed, where and for what purpose
What is the Right to be Forgotten under GDPR?
Also known as ‘data erasure’, the right to be forgotten entitles the data subject to have the data controller erase their personal data, cease further dissemination of the data, and potentially have third parties halt processing of the data
What is Data Portability under GDPR?
The right for a data subject to receive the personal data concerning them and have the right to transmit that data to another controller.
What is Privacy by Design under GDPR?
Privacy by design calls for the inclusion of data protection from the onset of the designing of systems, rather than as an addition.
Article 23 calls for controllers to hold and process only the data absolutely necessary for the completion
of its duties (data minimisation), as well as limiting the access to personal data to those needing to act
out the processing
What is/was the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB)?
UK led review which resulted in recomendations to break up Retail and Investment Banks. Ended in 2011, implemented by 2019
What is the Dodd Frank Act?
US regulation deisgned to overhaul the banking system. Introduced new standards, new regulators. Increased transaprency of derivatives and added new consumer protection rules. Investment Advisors must now register with the SEC (previously not required)
What is MiFID2?
The updated form of MIFID (2007) introduced in 2018. Its key aim is to enhance consumer protections by establishing a general obligation for firms to act in a client’s best interest at all times. This includes:
- obligation to obtain the best possible result for the client
- information disclosure requirements
- client-specific rules on suitability and appropriateness of financial products, and
- rules on inducements.
How does Passporting work?
Obtaining authorisation in one EU state – the home state – enables a firm to provide investment services in
another EU member state – the host state – without requiring any further local authorisations), and ‘host state’ rules then no longer apply to incoming passported firms.
Which Services are covered by Passporting under MiFID?
- receipt and transmission of orders in relation to one or more financial instruments
- execution of orders on behalf of clients
- dealing on own account
- portfolio management
- investment advice
- underwriting of financial instruments and/or placing of financial instruments on a firm commitment basis
- placing of financial instruments without a firm commitment basis
- operation of multilateral trading facilities (MTFs).
Is MiFID 2 Mandatory?
The directives are binding on member states in terms of the result to be achieved but provide individual
countries with the flexibility to implement the rules in their own national legal systems as they see fit.
Who issued MAR and when?
UK FCA in July 2016
What does MAR apply to?
a. financial instruments admitted to trading on a regulated market or for which a request for
admission to trading on a regulated market has been made
b. financial instruments traded on an MTF, admitted to trading on an MTF, or for which a request for
admission to trading on an MTF has been made
c. financial instruments traded on an organised trading facility (OTF)
d. financial instruments not covered by points (a), (b) or (c), the price or value of which depends on or
has an effect on the price or value of a financial instrument referred to in those points, including,
but not limited to, credit default swaps and contracts for difference.
How does MAR impact Market Soundings?
MAR introduces a framework to make legitimate disclosures of inside information in the course of
market soundings.
What does MAR say regarding inside Information?
Inside information is information that would be likely to have a significant effect on the price of
financial instruments or issuers if it were to be made public. Persons who possess inside information are prohibited from using that information to (or attempt to) deal in financial instruments or to recommend or induce another person to transact on the basis of inside information.
Firms need to maintain a register of insiders. Issuers and emission allowance market participants
(EAMPs) need to publicly disclose any inside information which has been (in)directly made available to them as soon as possible.
Can you delay disclosure of Inside Information?
Disclosure may be delayed if it is in the interest of financial stability. The FCA needs to be informed immediately after the decision to delay the disclosure of inside information has been made. A firm does not have to provide a written explanation of how the conditions for delayed disclosure are met but will need to keep appropriate records which will have to be made available to the FCA on demand.
What activities are exempt from the regulations regarding Market Abuse under MAR?
Buy-back programmes and stabilisation measures. Firms will have to notify the FCA prior to undertaking these transactions.
What is Market Manipulation under MAR?
Market manipulation can take the following forms:
• false or misleading signals resulting from transactions, orders, trades, or any other behaviour
• using fictitious devices or other deceptions likely to affect the price
• false or misleading signals resulting from disseminating information
• collaboration to secure a dominant position over demand and supply, creating unfair trading
conditions, and other similar behaviours.
What market does EMIR address? (European Market Infrastructure Regulation)
Derivatives (particularly OTC Derivatives)
What are the central Obligations of EMIR?
• central clearing for certain classes of OTC derivatives
• application of risk mitigation techniques for non-centrally cleared OTC derivatives
• reporting to TRs
• application of organisational, conduct of business and prudential requirements for CCPs
• application of requirements for TRs, including the duty to make certain data available to the public
and relevant authorities.
How does PSD2 define Payment Services?
Services enabling cash to be deposited in or withdrawn from, for example, a bank account, as well as all the operations required to operate the account. This can include transfers of funds, direct debits, credit
transfers and card payments. Paper transactions are not covered by the directive
What is the aim of PSD2?
• provide the legal foundation for the further development of a better integrated internal market for
electronic payments within the EU
• put in place comprehensive rules for payment services, with the goal of making international
payments within the EU as easy, efficient, and secure as payments within a country
• open up payment markets to new entrants leading to enhanced competition, greater choice, and
better prices for consumers, and
• provide the necessary legal platform for the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA).
Who does PSD2 apply to?
The PSD2 rules apply to existing and new providers of innovative payment services in the EU
What does PSD2 add for Consumer Rights?
PSD2 enhances consumer rights including reduced liability for non-authorised payment to €50 (from
€150), the unconditional right to refund direct debits in euros; and the removal of surcharges for the use
of a consumer debit or credit card.
What is the aim of the Sarbannes Oxley Act (SOX)?
The objective of SOX is ‘to protect investors by improving the accuracy and reliability of corporate
disclosures’. It applies to US public companies and their global subsidiaries. In addition, it applies to
foreign companies with shares listed on US stock exchanges.